The sea temperature at Santorini today is 21.6 °C (71 °F) – cold to refreshing water, better for a short swim. The usual October average is 22.5 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is 21.5 to 21.6 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 23.6 °C to 21.6 °C. Swimmable from May to December, when the sea averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17.2°C / 62.9°F | 17.7°C / 63.8°F | 18.2°C / 64.7°F |
| February | 16.2°C / 61.2°F | 16.9°C / 62.3°F | 17.5°C / 63.4°F |
| March | 16.3°C / 61.3°F | 16.6°C / 61.9°F | 17.3°C / 63.1°F |
| April | 16.6°C / 61.8°F | 17.2°C / 62.9°F | 18.2°C / 64.8°F |
| May | 18.5°C / 65.3°F | 19.2°C / 66.5°F | 19.7°C / 67.5°F |
| June | 22.1°C / 71.8°F | 22.8°C / 73.0°F | 23.8°C / 74.8°F |
| July | 23.3°C / 73.9°F | 24.5°C / 76.0°F | 25.2°C / 77.3°F |
| August | 25.1°C / 77.1°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F | 26.1°C / 79.0°F |
| September | 24.4°C / 76.0°F | 24.9°C / 76.8°F | 25.5°C / 77.8°F |
| October | 21.6°C / 70.9°F | 22.5°C / 72.5°F | 23.3°C / 74.0°F |
| November | 19.8°C / 67.7°F | 20.7°C / 69.2°F | 21.9°C / 71.4°F |
| December | 18.1°C / 64.5°F | 18.7°C / 65.7°F | 19.6°C / 67.3°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.8°C / 58.6°F | 14.8°C / 58.7°F | 14.9°C / 58.8°F |
| February | 13.7°C / 56.7°F | 13.9°C / 57.1°F | 14.1°C / 57.3°F |
| March | 14.3°C / 57.8°F | 14.6°C / 58.2°F | 14.7°C / 58.4°F |
| April | 16.3°C / 61.3°F | 16.6°C / 61.8°F | 16.9°C / 62.4°F |
| May | 18.7°C / 65.7°F | 19.1°C / 66.4°F | 19.5°C / 67.1°F |
| June | 22.7°C / 72.9°F | 23.0°C / 73.4°F | 23.2°C / 73.8°F |
| July | 24.9°C / 76.9°F | 25.2°C / 77.3°F | 25.2°C / 77.4°F |
| August | 25.5°C / 77.9°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F | 25.8°C / 78.4°F |
| September | 23.9°C / 75.1°F | 24.1°C / 75.4°F | 24.2°C / 75.5°F |
| October | 20.9°C / 69.5°F | 21.1°C / 69.9°F | 21.2°C / 70.1°F |
| November | 18.8°C / 65.8°F | 19.0°C / 66.1°F | 19.1°C / 66.4°F |
| December | 16.1°C / 60.9°F | 16.2°C / 61.2°F | 16.3°C / 61.4°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Santorini holidays
Built along the rim of a flooded volcanic caldera, Santorini (officially Thira) is an island in the southern Cyclades whose white villages of Fira, Imerovigli and Oia sit on cliffs up to about 300 metres above the sea. The caldera took its present shape after a huge eruption in the Late Bronze Age, which buried the prehistoric town of Akrotiri under ash.
Beaches
On Santorini the caldera side is almost all cliff, so most organised beaches lie on the east and south coasts, where the sand and pebbles are mostly dark and volcanic and grow hot in the midday sun. Kamari and Perissa–Perivolos are long, organised beaches with sunbeds and tavernas, and Vlychada in the south is backed by pale cliffs shaped by the wind. Access to the Red Beach near Akrotiri is officially prohibited because of the risk of rockfalls, so follow the local closure signs. The sea temperature on this page is measured in the caldera below Imerovigli, just north of Fira.
Things to do
Sunset in Oia draws crowds to the castle ruins and the lanes above the caldera. A cliff path of about ten kilometres links Fira with Oia through Firostefani and Imerovigli. The excavated town of Akrotiri, preserved under the ash with its multi-storey houses, is covered by a roof and open to visitors, and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira shows its wall paintings and finds. Boats from the old port below Fira cross to the volcanic islet of Nea Kameni and the warm springs off Palea Kameni. Inland, the villages of Pyrgos and Megalochori are quieter, and wineries serve Assyrtiko from vines trained into low baskets against the wind.
Weather and best time to visit
At Santorini the sea stays above 20 °C / 68 °F from June to November.
Summers are dry and sunny, often with a strong meltemi wind. July and August are very busy, with cruise ships in the caldera and packed viewpoints at sunset. April to June and September to October are warm and calmer, and from November to March many hotels and restaurants close.
Hotels and where to stay
The caldera villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia have the views, but many rooms are reached by steps and prices are high. Kamari and Perissa are cheaper and closer to the beaches, and inland Pyrgos and Megalochori are quiet.
Signature hotels: Andronis Luxury Suites (Oia) · Rocabella Santorini Hotel & Spa (Imerovigli)
Airport and getting there
Santorini Airport (JTR) lies near Kamari, about 6 km from Fira, with flights from Athens all year and from many European cities in summer. Ferries and high-speed boats from Piraeus and Rafina dock at Athinios port, south of Fira. Cruise passengers land at the old port of Fira, connected to the town by cable car and a stepped path.